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This essay argues that despite initial appearances, one can make good sense of Aristotle’s objections to Melissus (186a10-22), and one can find a comprehensible line of argument in the objections to Parmenides that follow (186a22-b12). However, the final section of chapter 3, i.e. 186b12-187a11, remains obscure. It evidently refers to an argument of Zeno’s, but it is unclear how the discussion is supposed to be relevant to that argument. A conjecture is offered, but without much confidence.

This essay argues that despite initial appearances, one can make good sense of Aristotle’s objections to Melissus (186a10-22), and one can find a comprehensible line of argument in the objections to Parmenides that follow (186a22-b12). However, the final section of chapter 3, i.e. 186b12-187a11, remains obscure. It evidently refers to an argument of Zeno’s, but it is unclear how the discussion is supposed to be relevant to that argument. A conjecture is offered, but without much confidence.